US DoE grants $62 mn for 20 projects to support hydrogen infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has announced about $62 million for 20 projects to accelerate R&D, demonstration, and deployment of advanced clean hydrogen technologies across 15 states in the country. DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) will manage the selected projects. 

These projects are aimed at advancing the critical elements of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, develop and demonstrate hydrogen-powered container-handling equipment for use at ports, and improve processes essential to the efficient, timely, and equitable deployment of hydrogen technologies. 

As per the announcement, five key areas of hydrogen ecosystem development that remains to be the focus of the latest grant are as following: 

• Hydrogen fueling of medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) vehicles: Four projects with an allocated amount of $8.5 million.
• Standardized hydrogen refueling station involving four projects with an aid of $40 million.
• One project involving hydrogen fuel cell-powered port equipment with an aid of $2.5 million. 
• About $7 million earmarked for seven projects enabling safety for hydrogen deployment.
• Equitable hydrogen technology community engagement involving four projects with $4 million allocation. 

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm commented on the development, "Under President Biden and Vice President Harris, America is leading the world in the development and deployment of clean hydrogen—a versatile fuel critical to reducing emissions from the most energy-intensive and polluting sectors of our economy".

"Today's announcement builds on the historic clean hydrogen investments made possible by the Investing in America agenda and will help deliver new economic opportunities across the nation while also reinforcing America's global leadership in clean energy technologies for generations to come", she noted.

The latest announcement is part of the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, which is being implemented through a government approach coordinated by the Hydrogen Interagency Task Force.

It is to be noted that the selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DoE to issue an award or provide funding to the selected projects. Before the issue of funding, the parties will undergo a negotiation process on the same before finalizing the grants for individual projects.